Junior Nicolette Ahmad has attended the St. Pete Pride Parade since she was old enough to drive there, collecting souvenirs each time she has gone.

“Being surrounded by such a vibrant and vocal community that shares the trait I have felt the most shame about reminds me why I came out in the first place,” Ahmad said, showing a pin she received from the parade two years prior that reads “HERE AND QUEER” against a rainbow background.

Last year, the St. Pete Pride Parade attracted Ahmad and an estimated 348,000 people.

“Coming from a more conservative family, feeling welcome in my local community through events like the [Pride] parade is crucial to my well-being,” Ahmad explained.

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Although USF departments wait until LGBTQ+ History Month in October to commemorate the LGBTQ+ community, St. Pete is home to Florida’s grandest Pride parade.

Here’s what students need to know if they plan on going.

The parade

Taking place this Saturday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at North and South Straub Parks in downtown St. Petersburg, 300,000 people are expected to attend the pride festival, including many USF students.

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Sophomore Pedro Cabrera always looks forward to the local food trucks and vendors that line the streets during the festival.

“Feeling supported by so many different businesses and getting food specific to the event makes it feel more personable compared to other Pride parades I’ve been to,” Cabrera said.

The festival features local businesses, beverage gardens and a family area to enjoy before the parade. It will be a hot day, with an expected high of 90 degrees, so dress accordingly and bring a water bottle as there will be refill stations throughout.

Participants can bring coolers, chairs and umbrellas, but be mindful not to intrude on fellow parade-goers’ views.

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Cabrera said a foldable chair can be a convenient way to follow the parade route comfortably.

The Trans March will kick off the parade, starting in Vinoy Park at 5:30 p.m. The general Pride Parade will begin at 6 p.m. and will run from Albert Whitted Park to Vinoy Park, traveling along Bayshore Drive.

USF Alumni will have a tent at the Parade giving out green and gold merchandise.

Getting there

The St. Petersburg High School parking lot, about two miles from the parade, will be a free park-and-ride spot from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, but cars must leave the lot by midnight.

Tropicana Field Lots 5, 6 and 7, less than two miles from the parade, will also offer free parking from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Routes 9, Central Avenue Trolley (CAT) and the SunRunner will be free this Saturday.

To get to the parade, students can take the SunRunner from Sixth Avenue South at USF St. Pete and depart at First Avenue North and Fifth Street.

The St. Pete Pier will be closed to vehicles starting at 4:30 p.m. If you decide to park there, your car will remain until it reopens around 9 p.m.

Senior Rosaline Franco recommended taking the bus to avoid driving in traffic and having to search for parking.

“Last time I went, it was impossible to find parking coming in the afternoon and it ate up some of my time trying to navigate the area. I will definitely be using the Sunrunner,” Franco warned.

Franco mentioned that traffic can congest the streets and consume too much gas,so the bus may be a more conscious option.

Entertainment and seating

St. Pete Pride Parade Day Festival will feature a variety of entertainers, headlined by Saucy Santana, a queer rapper native to Florida best known for the hit “Material Girl.”

North and Straub Parks will each have a stage with different lineups of artists playing them.

The Main Stage (N Straub Park) and Community Stage (S Straub Park) lineups can be found on St. Pete Pride’s website. The main stage will include the headline and VIP seating.

Although the entire event is free, reserved seating that ensures a view of the parade route and entertainment can be purchased on the website for $75.

Junior economics major Nia Callahan is particularly excited about the parade, citing that the event honors her identity by showcasing it.

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“Pride parades and other events celebrating the queer community allow us to have a space to reclaim our history and freedom,” Callahan said. “Whether you’re gay or an ally, getting premium seating or not, the best thing you can do is come and march.”

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated an incorrect number of average attendees and start time for the St. Pete Pride Parade.